The layout with a combined living room-kitchen, as well as studio apartments, will have both supporters and opponents. Indeed, this option has its own nuances.
I like this idea, and not just like it... I have been in the kitchen-living room for over 20 years. And when I was still a teenager in my parents’ apartment, and now with my large family.
I can't imagine a small isolated kitchen. I feel stuffy and uncomfortable in it. Don't turn around. Although for a couple or a single person the opposite is possible.
We suggest considering design techniques that can be used to completely hide or make the kitchen area as inconspicuous as possible. As you know, it is the presence of a kitchen in the living room space with its communication systems and household appliances that causes the most criticism.
So, if you have made your final decision or are already the happy owner of a spacious living room-kitchen, take on board the ideas proposed by experts that will neutralize the effect of being in the kitchen!
The very idea of combining the kitchen and living room space is very popular. But in the practical implementation of such projects, homeowners are faced with many nuances.
However, professional designers claim that with the right approach, this technique can be incorporated into both a standard one-room apartment and modern apartments with an improved layout.
How to hide the kitchen in the living room - designers’ favorite techniques
Making the kitchen almost invisible in the combined living room-kitchen space is absolutely possible. We bring to your attention the most fashionable and stylish ideas from professional designers!
Combining color solutions
A combination of colors will help create the effect of a single space. Alternatively, you can make the kitchen facades and walls the same color. Another option is to choose 2-3 primary colors and repeat them throughout the living room-kitchen space or studio apartment. Such solutions will smooth out the sharp transition between zones in space.
Identical facades of all cabinet furniture
Surely there will be cabinet furniture in the living room area - for example, a TV stand, a wall-mounted wall or shelving unit, a chest of drawers, etc. A simple and effective solution is to make the fronts of kitchen cabinets and other cabinet furniture the same. This will unify the space.
A bright accent in space
A great way to draw attention away from the kitchen is to place a large, bright accent piece in the space. This “something” should be really bright and big, stand out from the general interior and attract attention. This could be a huge soft corner in the living room, a bright painting or a modern installation in acid colors. The presence of a bright accent will “hide” both the kitchen and anything else.
Minimalism and built-in technology
The main thing that makes a kitchen a kitchen is the dishes, refrigerator, kitchen utensils and small appliances on the countertop, hanging rails, etc. It’s enough to “hide” everything securely in storage systems, use solutions with built-in appliances, design facades and surfaces in a minimalist style, and the kitchen will turn almost “invisible.”
Island kitchen
Another option to remove the accent from the kitchen is to make it an island. The hob and sink are placed on an island with hidden storage systems, and all appliances (refrigerator, oven, microwave oven, etc.) are hidden in linearly arranged high columns.
No wall cabinets
The presence of wall cabinets is a traditional feature of kitchens. If you remove the upper cabinets, the visual space will fundamentally change. Complement this with minimalism and overall color schemes to make the space more harmonious.
Kitchen-in-a-cupboard solution
Do you think that the kitchen cannot be “hidden” in the literal sense of the word? You are wrong! Today this will not be difficult, since the market offers a huge number of different mechanisms and accessories with which you can design a practical and easy-to-use system for hiding the kitchen at the right time. This can be a system based on the “wardrobe-compartment” principle, when a sliding door completely hides the kitchen and countertop, or doors that close like a screen. There are many variations. Surely you can choose the best option, taking into account the layout of a specific living room-kitchen space, by looking at our photo ideas!
Kitchen combined with living room - its advantages
Today, more and more owners of 2- and 3-room apartments prefer to combine a kitchen with a living room. This allows you to visually increase the space of the room and make it more exclusive and functional.
- The kitchen, combined with the living room, looks very fashionable and modern. The main advantage of this redevelopment is that as a result you get a spacious, bright room instead of two small ones.
- The kitchen, combined with the living room, is very convenient for parties and get-togethers with friends. Now you won't have to leave your friends to go to the kitchen and cook something, and you won't feel like you're locked in the kitchen while everyone else is having fun. Now you can prepare snacks and communicate with guests at the same time, and it’s easier to attract help.
- There will be no need to run with plates and teapots from the kitchen to the dining room, everything will be greatly simplified.
- Redevelopment will allow you to save on purchasing a second TV; you can buy one large one instead of two small ones. It will also be easier for you to keep an eye on the kids playing in the living room, while you can do your own thing in the kitchen.
Color scheme of the combined living room
In order for a set of furniture from two different functional areas to look harmonious, it is necessary to use tones that are similar in color. This does not depend on the style, but usually the living room combined with the kitchen is made either in the same color, or the darker furniture of the living room contrasts slightly with the light kitchen.
If you have modern paneling and wood floors (first shade), you can choose a sofa with gray fabric upholstery and a gray stone kitchen island (second shade), and leave the rest of the furniture white (third shade).
- You can dilute the monochrome with bright spots of dishes and decor. They are also easy to replace depending on the season or for the holidays.
- This is why it is important to choose the most suitable decorations for your living room to create a cozy atmosphere.
Disadvantages of a combined kitchen with living room
However, a kitchen combined with a living room also has its drawbacks. If you are the owner of a one-room or two-room apartment, then before you decide to remodel, you need to understand that now you will have one less room. An option is to combine the kitchen with the corridor and make a kitchen-living room out of that space.
- Whether you're willing to sleep next to the stove and refrigerator, also remember that you may have children and need a separate children's room.
- The combined space needs perfect cleanliness.
- Therefore, now you will not be able to leave unwashed dishes in the sink, you will also have to wash the floor every two days and give up light-colored carpets, as grease will settle on them.
Design of a studio kitchen combined with a living room: placing light accents
You can achieve a visual division of different zones in a kitchen-studio combined with a living room using thoughtful lighting. This is especially true for the design of small rooms. Despite the limited area, the living space should be well lit.
In the recreation area, where the sofa and dining table are located, a chandelier is usually used. It can be the starting point of the entire design or its logical conclusion. Identical lamps located above the kitchen look original. Just like in these photos.
The different functional purposes of individual segments of the studio can be emphasized by framing the corresponding area on the ceiling. It could be:
- plasterboard box;
- tension covering of a different texture;
- spotlights located in a special way.
In the kitchen area, it is imperative to illuminate the work and hob surfaces. An interesting effect can be achieved with LED lighting running along the bottom of the kitchen unit. This will make the design more stylish.
Want to learn more about zoning in a studio? The designers of the Decorin project recommend that you read this article.
Your kitchen-studio with living room does not have to be an exact copy of one of the photographs. Take your favorite idea as a basis. And make the interior individual, comfortable for you.
How to “separate” a combined kitchen and living room
- Columns, arches, small screens and partitions are also often used for zoning.
- Also a good solution is lighting; the kitchen should have bright lighting, and the living room should be more subdued and cozy.
- Hang blinds in the kitchen and beautiful curtains in the living room.
- Perhaps the most popular way of zoning such a room is a bar counter, which separates the kitchen space from the living room. This option is especially suitable for young families who like to host friendly parties and buffets. The bar counter is quite a functional thing; it can be used as a place to eat, as a work surface, and as an interior decoration.
Principles of organizing lighting in the kitchen-living room
There are several recommendations using which it is easy to avoid mistakes and organize proper lighting. Everything here is quite simple, you can figure it out in a few minutes, then it will save a lot of time, since it will be clear by what principles the equipment is selected and located. The tips are:
- The design of the location of lamps and sockets is done in advance. Therefore, it is necessary to think through the functional areas, their sizes and features of use. If everything is ready, during the repair it will not be difficult to install the wiring correctly, then you will not have to spoil the finish and redo the work. The project should be approved by the supervisory organization to eliminate errors and violations of electrical safety requirements.
- It must be remembered that sockets and switches cannot be placed closer than 60 cm from a sink or other sources of water.
- The number of light sources is considered. In no case should there be only a chandelier in the middle. Most often, illumination of the work surface and dining area is used as additional lighting. Also, in modern rooms they often install sconces or directional lights and install LED strips in cabinets. You can highlight niches, or use other decorative lighting options.
- By choosing the position of the lamps, it is easy to hide the shortcomings of the room and compensate for them. For example, in a narrow kitchen-living room it is worth placing light sources on only one side. If you place several chandeliers or shades in the middle, this will elongate the room. Wall lights pointing upward will lift a low ceiling. A massive chandelier will fit perfectly with high partitions.
- Color temperature determines the comfort of living in the kitchen and living room. When choosing light bulbs, it is better to give preference to soft yellow or natural light. The cold option is only suitable for the work area.
The color temperature should be calm to set the mood for relaxation. - To be able to adjust the brightness, it is best to install LED lamps and connect them through a dimmer. With its help, it is easy to configure the lighting in different ways and change it if necessary. The LED strip's shades are also customizable.
- It is especially important to illuminate small spaces well. Due to the light, they will become more spacious. But at the same time, you should not use too many lamps, this has a bad effect on the perception of space and the comfort of being in it.
- The style of the room is taken into account. For a wooden house, stylized options made of wood or ceramics are suitable. Lighting a kitchen-living room in a modern style can be implemented in different ways, there are hundreds of options.
It is worth adhering to a single style when choosing equipment for different functional areas.
Kitchen-living room - photo
Look at our photos and get new interesting ideas from them!
